Refinery Key Terms and Definitions

Atmospheric Crude Oil Distillation Capacity

The refining process of separating crude oil components at atmospheric pressure by heating to
temperatures of about 600º to 750º F (depending on the nature of the crude oil and desired products)
and subsequent condensing of the fractions by cooling.

Barrel A unit of volume equal to 42 U.S. gallons.

Barrels Per Calendar Day

The amount of input that a distillation facility can process under usual operating conditions. The
amount is expressed in terms of capacity during a 24-hour period and reduces the maximum
processing capability of all units at the facility under continuous operation (see Barrels per Stream
Day) to account for the following limitations that may delay, interrupt, or slow down production:

 The capability of downstream facilities to absorb the output of crude oil processing facilities of
a given refinery. No reduction is made when a planned distribution of intermediate streams
through other than downstream facilities is part of a refinery's normal operation;
 The types and grades of inputs to be processed;
 The environmental constraints associated with refinery operations;
 The reduction of capacity for scheduled downtime due to such conditions as routine inspection,
maintenance, repairs, and turnaround; and
 The reduction of capacity for unscheduled downtime due to such conditions as mechanical
problems, repairs, and slowdowns.

Barrels Per Stream Day

The maximum number of barrels of input that a distillation facility can process within a 24-hour
period when running at full capacity under optimal crude and product slate conditions with no
allowance for downtime.

Catalytic Cracking

The refining process of breaking down the larger, heavier, and more complex hydrocarbon molecules
into simpler and lighter molecules. Catalytic cracking is accomplished by the use of a catalytic agent
and is an effective process for increasing the yield of gasoline from crude oil. Catalytic cracking
processes fresh feeds and recycled feeds.

Catalytic Cracking - Fresh Feeds

Crude oil or petroleum distillates which are being fed to processing units for the first time.

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Catalytic Cracking - Recycled Feeds

Feeds that are continuously fed back for additional processing.

Catalytic Hydro-Cracking

A refining process that uses hydrogen and catalysts with relatively low temperatures and high
pressures for converting middle boiling or residual material to high-octane gasoline, reformer charge
stock, jet fuel, and/or high grade fuel oil. The process uses one or more catalysts, depending upon
product output, and can handle high sulfur feedstocks without prior desulfurization.

Catalytic Hydrotreating

A refining process for treating petroleum fractions from atmospheric or vacuum distillation units (e.g.,
naphthas, middle distillates, reformer feeds, residual fuel oil, and heavy gas oil) and other petroleum
(e.g., cat cracked naphtha, coker naphtha, gas oil, etc.) in the presence of catalysts and substantial
quantities of hydrogen. Hydrotreating includes desulfurization, removal of substances (e.g., nitrogen
compounds) that deactivate catalysts, conversion of olefins to paraffins to reduce gum formation in
gasoline, and other processes to upgrade the quality of the fractions.

Catalytic Reforming

A refining process using controlled heat and pressure with catalysts to rearrange certain hydrocarbon
molecules, thereby converting paraffinic and naphthenic type hydrocarbons (e.g., low-octane gasoline
boiling range fractions) into petrochemical feedstocks and higher octane stocks suitable for blending
into finished gasoline. Catalytic reforming is reported in two categories:

 Low Pressure. A processing unit operating at less than 225 pounds per square inch gauge
(PSIG) measured at the outlet separator.
 High Pressure. A processing unit operating at either equal or greater than 225 pounds per
square inch gauge (PSIG) measured at the outlet separator.

Charge Capacity

The input (feed) capacity of the refinery processing facilities.

Crude Oil

A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains
liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Depending upon the
characteristics of the crude stream, it may also include:

Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in gaseous phase in natural underground reservoirs but are
liquid at atmospheric pressure after being recovered from oil well (casing head) gas in lease separators
and are subsequently commingled with the crude stream without being separately measured. Lease

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condensate recovered as a liquid from natural gas wells in lease or field separation facilities and later
mixed into the crude stream is also included;

 Small amounts of non hydrocarbons produced with the oil, such as sulfur and various metals;
 Drip gases, and liquid hydrocarbons produced from tar sands, oil sands, gilsonite, and oil shale.

Liquids produced at natural gas processing plants are excluded. Crude oil is refined to produce a wide
array of petroleum products, including heating oils; gasoline, diesel and jet fuels; lubricants; asphalt;
ethane, propane, and butane; and many other products used for their energy or chemical content.

Delayed Coking

A process by which heavier crude oil fractions can be thermally decomposed under conditions of
elevated temperatures and pressure to produce a mixture of lighter oils and petroleum coke. The light
oils can be processed further in other refinery units to meet product specifications. The coke can be
used either as a fuel or in other applications such as the manufacturing of steel or aluminum.

Desulfurization

The removal of sulfur, as from molten metals, petroleum oil, or flue gases. Petroleum desulfurization
is a process that removes sulfur and its compounds from various streams during the refining process.
Desulfurization processes include catalytic hydrotreating and other chemical/physical processes such
as absorption. Desulfurization processes vary based on the type of stream treated (e.g. naphtha,
distillate, heavy gas oil, etc.) and the amount of sulfur removed (e.g. sulfur reduction to 10 ppm).

Distillate Fuel Oil

A general classification for one of the petroleum fractions produced in conventional distillation
operations. It includes diesel fuels and fuel oils. Products known as No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 diesel fuel
are used in on-highway diesel engines, such as those in trucks and automobiles, as well as off-highway
engines, such as those in railroad locomotives and agricultural machinery. Products known as No. 1,
No. 2, and No. 4 fuel oils are used primarily for space heating and electric power generation.

Finished Gasoline

A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons with or without small quantities of additives,
blended to form a fuel suitable for use in spark-ignition engines. Motor gasoline, as defined in ASTM
Specification D 4814 or Federal Specification VV-G-1690C, is characterized as having a boiling range
of 122 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit at the 10 percent recovery point to 365 to 374 degrees Fahrenheit at
the 90 percent recovery point. Motor Gasoline includes conventional gasoline; all types of oxygenated
gasoline, including gasohol; and reformulated gasoline, but excludes aviation gasoline. Note:
Volumetric data on blending components, such as oxygenates, are not counted in data on finished
motor gasoline until the blending components are blended into the gasoline.

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Fluid Coking

A thermal cracking process utilizing the fluidized-solids technique to remove carbon (coke) for
continuous conversion of heavy, low-grade oils into lighter products.

Fuels Solvent Deasphalting

A refining process for removing asphalt compounds from petroleum fractions, such as reduced crude
oil. The recovered stream from this process is used to produce fuel products.

Gas Oil

A liquid petroleum distillate having a viscosity intermediate between that of kerosene and lubricating
oil. It derives its name from having originally been used in the manufacture of illuminating gas. It is
now used to produce distillate fuel oils and gasoline.

Heavy Gas Oil

Petroleum distillates with an approximate boiling range from 651º F to 1000º F.

Kerosene

A light petroleum distillate that is used in space heaters, cook stoves, and water heaters and is suitable
for use as a light source when burned in wick-fed lamps. Kerosene has a maximum distillation
temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit at the 10-percent recovery point, a final boiling point of 572
degrees Fahrenheit, and a minimum flash point of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Included are No. 1-K and
No. 2-K, the two grades recognized by ASTM Specification D 3699 as well as all other grades of
kerosene called range or stove oil, which have properties similar to those of No. 1 fuel oil. See
Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel.

Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel

A kerosene-based product having a maximum distillation temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit at the
10-percent recovery point and a final maximum boiling point of 572 degrees Fahrenheit and meeting
ASTM Specification D 1655 and Military Specifications MIL-T-5624P and MIL-T-83133D (Grades
JP-5 and JP-8). It is used for commercial and military turbojet and turboprop aircraft engines.

Naphtha

A generic term applied to a petroleum fraction with an approximate boiling range between 122º and
400º F.

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No. 2 Diesel Fuel

A distillate fuel oil that has a distillation temperature of 640 degrees Fahrenheit at the 90-percent
recovery point and meets the specifications defined in ASTM Specification D 975. It is used in high-
speed diesel engines that are generally operated under uniform speed and load conditions, such as
those in railroad locomotives, trucks, and automobiles.

Operable Capacity

The amount of capacity that, at the beginning of the period, is in operation; not in operation and not
under active repair, but capable of being placed in operation within 30 days; or not in operation but
under active repair that can be completed within 90 days. Operable capacity is the sum of the
operating and idle capacity and is measured in barrels per calendar day or barrels per stream day.

Refinery

An installation that manufactures finished petroleum products from crude oil, unfinished oils, natural
gas liquids, other hydrocarbons, and oxygenates.

Residual Fuel Oil

A general classification for the heavier oils, known as No. 5 and No. 6 fuel oils, that remain after the
distillate fuel oils and lighter hydrocarbons are distilled away in refinery operations. It conforms to
ASTM Specifications D396 and D975 and Federal Specification VV-F-815C. No. 5, a residual fuel oil
of medium viscosity, is also known as Navy Special and is defined in Military Specification MIL-F-
859E, including Amendment 2 (NATO Symbol F-770). It is used in steam-powered vessels in
government service and inshore powerplants. No. 6 fuel oil includes Bunker C fuel oil and is used for
the production of electric power, space heating, vessel bunkering, and various industrial purposes.

Thermal Cracking

A refining process in which heat and pressure are used to break down, rearrange, or combine
hydrocarbon molecules. Thermal cracking includes gas oil, visbreaking, fluid coking, delayed coking,
and other thermal cracking processes (e.g., flexicoking).

Vacuum Distillation

Distillation under reduced pressure (less the atmospheric) which lowers the boiling temperature of the
liquid being distilled. This technique with its relatively low temperatures prevents cracking or
decomposition of the charge stock.

Visbreaking

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A thermal cracking process in which heavy atmospheric or vacuum-still bottoms are cracked at
moderate temperatures to increase production of distillate products and reduce viscosity of the
distillation residues.

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